Cincinnati Choral Society
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• Weekly rehearsals are from 7:00 until 9:30 on Tuesday evenings, unless otherwise noted, at the Mason United Methodist Church, 773 S. Mason-Montgomery Road (across from the Mason High School). Members should arrive at about 6:50 so that they can check their communications folders and be in place at 7:00. At the discretion of the Artistic Director, additional rehearsals will be scheduled.
• A dress rehearsal is held at the concert location during the week of a concert. Concert dress is not required.
• Attendance at regular rehearsals, extra sectional rehearsals, and dress rehearsals is of utmost importance. If a member misses more than two rehearsals leading up to a concert, or misses the dress rehearsal, his/her participation in the concert will be at the discretion of the Artistic Director. Members should inform their section attendance takers when they expect to miss rehearsals.
• Members are expected to work diligently at learning the music for each concert, including making use of such aids as recordings and practice tapes when available, and rehearsing individually apart from regular rehearsal times. In order to achieve the performance level we expect, members must learn new music early in each concert cycle. To ensure member knowledge of the repertoire, octets (8 singers, 2 to a part) may be a scheduled rehearsal activity during each concert cycle.
• When weather or other unforeseen conditions force the cancellation of a rehearsal, that information is recorded on the CCS voice mail (784-2379) and an e-mail message is sent to all members whose e-mail addresses are on record. Members should call the voice mail and check their e-mail when they are in doubt concerning a rehearsal.
• Most music
is purchased by the CCS and reimbursed by the members who then are free
to keep it. A small charge, to cover needed orchestral music, is added
to each member’s amount. Reimbursement is expected within two weeks
following the announcement of applicable charges for each concert’s
music.
• The Artistic Director is responsible for selecting the music to be presented at concerts as a part of his contractual duties. Concerts are performed in appropriate venues in the Greater Cincinnati Area. Important aspects of the selection of both the music and the venues are the need for continuous audience development and the desire for fostering a partnership with sponsors at concert locations.
• The Artistic
Director is responsible for selecting soloists for concert programs. Either
CCS members or outside soloists may be used depending on the requirements
of the music.
Female singers wear the standard CCS dress. Dresses need to be ordered early in the season so that any necessary alterations can be made in time for the first concert. Please hem dresses so that, in your concert shoes, the hem falls two (2) inches from the floor in your concert shoes. Ankle length dresses stand out and are not acceptable. Comfortable black shoes should be worn, with black hose. A single strand of pearls should be worn as a necklace along with pearl stud earrings. Dress watches and rings may be worn, but please, no bracelets or drop earrings.
• Concert Attire: Men
Male singers wear black single-breasted tuxedos (no tails), with single
side pockets, notched lapels and single side-striped trousers. The outfit
is completed with a white, pleated shirt (without ruffles), down collar,
black shoes and socks, a standard black bow tie, and a black cummerbund.
• Members should not wear anything perfumed or scented because some CCS members have allergies. This includes cosmetics, colognes, hair spray, powders or after-shaves.
• Members are to provide black folders or binders to hold music during concerts.
A significant source of the CCS’s income is the dedicated members themselves. While there are no dues or other payments required, members sell concert tickets, procure contracts for concert program advertising, make personal contributions, and solicit contributions from others. The efforts of the members are what make the Society successful, both financially and musically.
The CCS is fully aware that some members are able to contribute more of their time, effort, and financial funds than others to produce income for the group. A member’s ability to contribute musically cannot in any way be conditioned on the ability to contribute financially. Nonetheless, it is necessary for all members to do all they can in support of the CCS financial goals.
The Board of Directors has established an income production goal for each member of $250. CCS also welcomes higher contribution levels (e.g., $360 or $36 a month) as this enables additional musical experiences to be part of the season. (e.g., orchestra, soloists, etc.) That is, we anticipate that during the concert year, members will be able to bring in at least that amount through a combination of advance ticket sales, Kroger gift card personal proceeds and subscriptions, advertising contracts, and personal contributions. Contributions received in other CCS fundraisers or through the provision of names of possible donors do not contribute toward this $250 income production goal. The results of members’ financial efforts are not publicized, but records are kept for informational purposes and may be communicated to individual members. When donations are received, the names of all cash contributors are listed, by contribution level, in the printed program for each concert.
Volunteer: In addition to monetary contributions, there are also a number of opportunities for members to contribute to the organization by offering their time and skills. Volunteer activities vary in amount of time required – the goal is that no member feels unduly burdened.